Ticket issuing machine



:July 27, 1943. R. H. HELSEL TICKET ISSUING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 7, 1941 Fen/ en flc v/ July 27, 1943. R. H. HELSEL TICKET ISSUING MACHINE Fil ed Jan 7, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 27, 1943. R HELS'EL 2,325,054

TICKET ISSUING MACHINE Fil ed Jan. 7, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 y 1943- R. H. HELSEL 2325954 TICKET ISSUINQ MACHINE Filed Jan. '7, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 gwa/ w j fasysi Patented July 27 1943 Reuben H. Helsel, Long Island City,- l l. Y., as-

signor to GeneralRegister Corporation, New

York,N. Y.', a corporation of Pennsylvania Applicationllanuary 1, 1941, Serial No'..3'l3,437

. .13 Claims.

This invention relates-to a' ticket issuing machine, particularly adapted forthe issuance'of tickets for places of amusement.

. It has been proposed for the purpose of providing a better check on the honesty of employees of theaters and the like, and to .iacilitat accounting, to identify each ticket issued as partof a group of tickets with the total number of tickets issued in the group. For example, if four tickets are issued simultaneously, each ticket, one; .any

rate, each except the first ticket, should be marked with the number or some equivalent identify ing character. It has also been pro-posed, that instead of issuing a group of rather readily separabletiokets of thepresenttype, there should be issued whatis; in fact,one.ticket, comprising, however, a number oi' sub-tickets or unit areas not readily separable from each other, th entire ticket being severable along a weakened or perforated line extending lengthwise of the ticket and t verse to the various sub-tickets It is one object of the present invention taprovide a machine for issuing tickets of the general type just indicated, 'identifyingthem with numbers of other characters indicative of the total issued in a single cycle of operation. The invention, however, is not solely adapted for the issue of tickets of the type described. above, but may be used for printing matters upon tickets of conventional type. l

A further object of the invention is the Pliovision of improved seleetingfrneansfor the issue one or moretickets .or ,subetickets in cycle of operation, depending. upon depression of aselected key. This mechanismgfor. determining the number of tickets or sub -ti.cketsissued in a single cycl is interconnected with selective printing mechanism in accordance with aspecific embodiment of the invention. .I'

Still. another. object of the invention .is the provision of an improved feeding and ticket strip adjusting means design to insure that the ticket strip .is properly positioned in relationship to severing means at the time severing. occurs,

These and other objects of,the-invention relating to details of construction and operation will be apparent from the-following description, read in conjunction with :the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is aside eievation,.-part ially broken of aticket issuing unit. embodying the improvements indicated above; v

Figure 2, is a verticalsectional. view viewing the unit fromthe opposite side and showingparticw larly various elements located behind one of the side plates;

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the unit with certain parts broken away to show details;

Figure is'a further fragmentary vertical section of the unit partially broken away in the lower 'right' hand' corner thereof to show a control means dependent upon the presence of supply strip; v

Figure 5' is a front elevation showing certain detailsfof the key controlling mechanism;

' Fig. 6' is a'iragrnentary horizontal section taken on a plane the trac of which is indicated at 6-5 in Figurei;

Figure 7f is a similar section taken on a plane the trace o-which igindicatedat'L-l in Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a horizontal section illustrating in particular a group of cams determining the period of operation of the machine;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical section showing in particular details of a'- platen mechanism and the manner in which a printing unit is-associated'with it; :Figurem'is a fragmentary section taken on the plane the race of which is indicated at ill-lll-in Figure 9;

Figure 1.1. is aside elevation of a printing unit; Figure 12 is a plan view of the printing unit; Figure 13 is a face view of the printing unit looking toward the printing elements thereof;

Figure 14 is-a vertical section through:the printing unit; Figure 15 is a perspective view of an adjustable printing element involved in unit; and

Figure 16 is an elevation of a ticket adapted to be issued bythe improved machine.

A complete ticket issuing machine embodying the principles of'the present invention comprises usuallya plurality of separate units eachadapted for the issue of tickets of a single denomination. These 11, its are received in conventional .fashion in singleacasing and-are adapted tobe driven by a single motor connected to a countershaft provided with individual pinions for the various units into mesh withwhlch pinions the-driving gears of the various units move as they are placed in proper position within the casing. Since. the case andxcountershaftarrangement form no part of the present invention, it need'not be described herein. The arrangement may be of conventional type, as described, for example, in my Patent No.

2,097,485, dated November 2, 1937. The present inventions are embodied ineach of the separate -therefrom a pin units and only one unit will be described in detail.

Each unit comprises a pair of side plates 2 and 4 and an intermediate plate 6 to serve as the principal supports for the various operating elements. Other bracket arrangements, cross-brackets, etc. are provided, as will be evident hereafter, but since they may take various convenient forms, they will not be described in detail.

lhe machine comprises a set of keys which I may, for example, and as disclosed, be five in number for the purpose of issuin one to five tickets, sub-tickets or unit areas, in a single operation. Each of. the keys 8 is provided with a shank 10, the various shanks being shaped to bring their lower portions in substantially a single vertical plane extending lengthwise of the unit. The cylindrical portions of the keys slide in circular openings in a transverse top plate I2, and the lower ends of the shanks are guided in openings in a bracket I4.

Each of the shanks has extending laterally I8 having limited movement within a corresponding vertical slot IS in a bracket 28 secured to the side plate 2 of the unit.

Mounted on each of the pins is a rocking lever 20, each being normally urged b an individual spring 22 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 4. Each of the levers is provided with a forwardly and upwardly projecting upper end 24 overlapping, in a vertical direction, a corresponding step 25 provided on the bracket 28. The levers 20 are arranged, as illustrated, in. staggered relationship and have their lower ends extending between spacer plates 44 which serve to keep them separated and in proper lateral position.

The levers 20 extend downwardly through an opening in a locking plate provided with a series of steps 32 adapted to engage shoulders 3| on the levers as described hereafter. The plate 30 is engageable by the lower end 34 of a rocking lever 35 pivoted at 38 and provided with a turned upper end 35! engageable by the operator to lock the mach ne. The plate 30 is mounted for forward and rearward movement by reason of the provision thereon of a downwardly directed flange 4!] provided with slots embracing pins 42 carried by the side plate 2 of the machine.

The levers 20 are provided with downwardly facing shoulders or steps 46 and with sloping edges 41 normally engaging the steps 32 of the plate 30, under the action of springs 22.

Corres onding to each of the levers 20 there is a lever 48 having its forward end 50'projectine beneath the step 46 of its corresponding lever 20. These levers 48 project between the spacing plates 44 previously mentioned and are pivoted on a common rod 52 extending across the machine. The levers 48 have downwardly and rearwardlv extending arms of equal length provided with notches 54 and sloping cam surfaces 56 adapted to cooperate with the turned ends 58 of a series of detent levers 60 of which there is one for each of the levers 48.

Mounted also upon the pin 52 is a yoke 62 having a flat portion underlying all of the levers 48 and adapted to be engaged by them. A spring 64h mally urges this yoke 62 in a clockwise direction, viewed in Figure 2. The yoke is provided with an arm 56 engaged by an abutment portion 88 of a lever 10 pivoted on a pin I2 and provided with a nose 13 adapted to engage a switch-controlling plate 14 secured to a transunit by any of the keys thereof is eifective to close the switch energizing the common driving motor.

To the upper end of the lever 10 is pivoted at a link 82 urged forwardly by a strong spring 84 connected between it and a fixed portion of the frame. The connections of this link will be hereafter described.

The yoke 62 is provided with a depending arm 80 with which cooperates a forwardly extending .arm 83 carried by a shaft 89 Which also carries 2. depending lever 90 provided with a rounded end 92 engageable, under the action of spring 56, with the ticket supply strip S passing upwardly through the guide channel, indicated at .94. which guide channel is pivoted at its upper end at 95 so as to be movable for insertion of the ticket strip. as indicated hereafter. This guide channel is formed primarily of two spaced strips of metal between which the ticket stock passes.

The yoke 02 is also provided with a rearwardly extending arm 98, which is adapted to be acted upon at a suitable time in the cycle of the machine by a cam I00, which forms one of a group of cams carried by a hub secured to a gear I02 and rotatably mounted upon a fixed transverse pin H4.

The various levers 60 previously mention ed are pivoted on a common transverse pin I04 and urged in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figures 2 and 4 by means of individual springs I06 connected between them and fixed portion of the frame. Each of the levers 60 is provided with a cam follower portion I08 which is normally spaced from an individual corresponding cam I I0. There is. a cam IIO corresponding to each of the levers 60, and all of these cams have rises H5 located in the same angular position relative to the gear I02. However, these cams terminate at different positions, indicated at H8, the cam corresponding to the issue of one ticket having the greatest angular extent, the cam corresponding to the issue of two tickets having less angular extent, and so on, up to the cam controlling the issue of five tickets, which has the least extent. These various cams are spaced by discs II2 between which the follower portions I08 of the various levers project so as to be properly positioned for cooperation with their respective cams.

The hub of the group of cams just referred to also carries a cam I20, as illustrated in Figure 2, provided with a drop I22.

On a transverse pin I26 is mounted a yoke I28 provided with four steps, illustrated at I30, arranged to engage the ends I24 of the levers 60, which are operated in the issuing of two to five tickets. There is no step provided corresponding to the lever 60 which operates in the issuing of after "described. The other arm, I36'of the bell crank follows the cam I20, under the action ofa spring urged member 326-engaging the pinI34.

-On-the'pin I04, providing the pivot tor-the leversGIl is journalled a yoke-member Ill-embracing theg'roup of levers and provided with a plate lflgengageable by the leversunder the adjustment -afforded 'by a pairof screws-I46,-the plate being loosely held inside the transverse portion of the-yoke by means of =a-screw I 43 threaded into the plateand passing loosely through an opening in the yoke and pressed outwardly-by a compression spring I45. The yoke I42 is'prov ided with an upwardly "extending'arm I38 urged in a counter-clockwise direction, as 'viewed 'in Figure 2, by a weak spring I40 and supporting, on a pivot pin I48, a knurled feed-roller or disc- I'50to which is secured a pinion I52 meshing With-a gear I54, to which is secured a cooperating knurled feed roller ordisc 288 journalled on a fixedipin 289. The rollers I-Il and 288'are-arrangedto pinch and feed the ticket strip passing upwardly through the guide 84, and for this purpose extendinto slots in the plates forniing the guide 94. 1 Returning to the connections of the link -82, that link is pivoted to a double-armedlever" I55, which is mounted on a stud I58. 'Onearm of this lever is formed as a hook I58 adapted to be engaged by a pin I62 carried by a gear segment IE4 pivoted at I65 to a gear I12 and urged outwardly by a spring -I68 toward a position which, in operation, is limited b a pin I'Il] projecting from the gear "HZ through an enlarged opening in. the segment I64. The-gearIIZ is-c'ut awayafor a-por t'ion thereof, which'is adapted to be bridged by-the segment IE4. In itsinner position, this segment permits a gap in the continuity of the teeth, and consequently theteeth are out of mesh with the individual pinion I65 for the'unit carried by the common counter shaft I 61 fonthe several units.

uous set with the teeth of gear I12, and meshing andzprop'er drive will result. This clutching arrangement is not new in this particular machine, and itsfunotion and operation are'the same as in my prior Patent 2,219,650, datedOctober 29,

Secured to'the shaft Il3'of the gear -I'I2 is-a cam II5' which, by engagement with the other arm I754 of the lever I55 serves toj-restore it-to the position shown following its displacementin the cycle of operation. Also secured to shaft H3 and rotating with the gear I12isacam I18; provided with a notch Ifii! behindwhich there engagestherear end of a lever I82 pivotedat I83 to the'frame and urged by a spring IM in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed inFigure 2. The lever I82 has a'turned forward end I85, which, in the stationary position of the niachin'e, underlies the rear end of the switch controlling plate I4. -As will be pointed out hereaften'this lever serves to maintain the switch closed until thecycle is completed. I I

A pinwheel provided. with i3), is oarrived by a shaft I58 journalled in the ire machine, in such fashion as to project I91! through a slot in theticlzet guide M engagement with the openings in t i strip feeding through the guide. The p the movement of the guide about its previouslyreferred to is to permit the guide to be moved away from thepins so that they will not obstruct the feeding of the ticket strip On the other handwvhen the seg-- ment IE4 is released .'its teeth provide a contin carried by l ver '22 iii. The lin ,extehd is to through the guide in theinitial threadingof the machine. A spring 222 normally urges the guide into the position illustrated in Figure 2/ This spring 222 serves also to apply tension to another member, hereafter referred to.

A blade I9! urged by a spring toward the pinwheel 88 serves by engagement behind the pins I9 to prevent any retrograde movement of he pinwheel. -It yields readily to permit free forward movement of the pinwlieel.

Secured to the shaft I89 ofthe pinwheel I38 is a star wheel !92 having V-shaped notches therein corresponding in number to-the pins I90. "Secured also more pinwheel shaft IE4} to rotate with it is a pinion-95 which, through ihtermediate gea rs I523 and 98 drives the pinion. 280 of the counter 292. 'is will be pointed out hereafter, the pinwhee does not ervo to drivethe ticket strip, but is rotated by the feed of the ticket stripj Accordingly, the counter serves only'to counti'he actual ti -ets issued by the machine. An operation inthe absence of the ticket strip at the-position oithe pint/heel I88, even-if it occurred due to a failure of the lever 9Il=to effect its control, would not result in registration by the counter.

, Adapted to engage within the notches of the star wheel 292 is a roller 2% carried at the forward-end of a leve 20% pivoted at 68 to a lever ZIQ, which is mounted on a transverse pin 2M and'rotating with the gear I72. The spring 222 ieretofore referred to serves to urge the roller 2 l 5 toward the 2 I2.

To the link 2% is pivoted at 224 another link 2'28 pro? d with a slot 2:23 embracing a pin 235! i: 225 has a turned upper end abutting; under the actionoi the springZ lower end of a screw 2% threaded through the and having its upper end he top of'thernit so As will c' e ily adjust-a l, the serves for 294, in effe t approx hence for to angular posi the This adjustment is imthat the'proner portion of the screw the roller and (3 which drives gear 2-" 4. provided with a l huh to-whieh 3S socuredthe roller 28%.

To the hub of 252 is secured a disc s thereof rollers and carryingres n 52 and 2 oted upon'a trade at its or end. the movahie knife reacting bet engagement with the fixed hi proper cutting of the ticket st the guide M.

"The hub'iidd of rial "upon a adapted to i byaplate 2M, slots embracing by the action'of'ca spring 2'54 inanupwa ear carrr which is jour s earn 233 t carried C11 and forward direction transverse to the direction of extent of the upper t i the Pinion I54,

5 tons-on. of

portion of the guide 94. The plate 272 is provided with. an outwardly turned flange 276, extending paral el to the guide 94, outside of which flange there s a plate 218 loosely mounted on the fla" by means of a screw 283' threaded into t plate 273 and. loosely passing through an opening in the flange. A spring 28| sur rounding the screw serves to urge the plate 218 rearwardly to a position determined by a plurality of set screws 2855, which serve as limiting stops. To the face of the plate 218 there is socured a pla en material of leather or the like 282 hav r its end anchored in an arm 284 fixed to the p at 23%. As will be pointed out hereafter, printing on the ticket strip is effected by the action of cam 256 in forcing the backing platen material 232 against the ticket strip to press it in turn against an inked ribbon backed by type.

Printing is effected through the medium of a unit illustrated in detail in Figures 11 to 15. This unit comprises side plates 290 and 292 serving as supports for the various operating parts of the unit. In cross-brackets 294 and 296 there is mounted a type carryin; member or spindle 298, which, as illustrated in Figure 15, contains spaced type groups or bands 396, 362, 304 and 366. All four of these carry the numeral 5 in axial alignment. The groups 360, 362 and 304 carry the numeral 4 in axial alignment. The groups 360 and 302 carry the numeral 3 in axial alignment, and the group 360 additionally includes the numeral 2. The member 298 is provided at its upper end with a pinion 368 meshing with a pinion 3!!! carried by a shaft 312 mounted parallel to the member 298. A spring 3E4 normally urges the shaft 3|2 in a direction to cause the member 288 to move beyond the position corresponding to the numeral 2' in printin; position,

' A pinion 3H5 secured to the lower portion of the shaft 3i2 is in mesh with a rack 326, suitably guided along the side plate 292 and provided at its upper end with a pin 322 projecting into a slot 324 in a lever 326 pivoted at 328 to the plate 292. This lever 326 is the one previously referred to and illustrated in Figure 2 as engaging pin I34 of the lever I32. When the machine is in the rest position, the engagement of the lever 326 with pin I34 results in pulling the rack 326 in opposition to the spring M4 to cause the type faces numbered 5 to be approximately in printing position. Actually, their position is slightly beyond the printing position,

so that a slight movement under the action of spring 314 causes them to reach proper printing position. 7

The upper end of the lever 326 engages a pin 330 carried by the upper end of an arm 332 secured to a shaft 334, pivoted in the plates 290 and 292. 'ihe shaft 334 carries a depending arm 33% to which ispivoted a pawl 333 urged into engagement with a ratchet wheel 342 by means of a spring 343 reacting between the pawl and a detent 34 I, also engaging the teeth of the ratchet 342 and pivoted freely on the shaft 334. The ratchet 342 is journalled upon a pin 343, on which there is also journalled a frame 362 provided with pins carrying lower and upper pinions 344 and 346, which mesh with each other and through an intermediate pinion with the ratchet wheel 342. The pinion 344 is adapted at proper times to mesh with a gear 348 while the pinion 346 is adapted to mesh with a gear 350. These gears respectively carry the inked ribbon carriers 352 and 354, which support conventional spools of typewriter ribbon passing over a spring member 356 to maintain tension and about a guide roller 358 across the faces of the type elements carried by member 298. Additionally, they extend across the type elements on slugs 360 which may, for example, carry dating characters or other information such, for example, as the name of a theater or the like.

The frame 362 has a tail portion 354 projecting laterally and adapted to be alternately engaged by the notched ends of levers 366 and 368 journalled on fixed pins. Within openings in these levers there project the turned ends 310 and 312 .of-pivoted feeler blades 314 and 316 bearing upon the reels of inked ribbon.

The mechanism last referred to is for the purpose of feeding the ribbon and reversing the direction of feed at proper times. The feeding is accomplished by the action of pawl 338, retrograde movement being prevented by the detent 34l, the feeding taking place whenever the lever 326 moves rearwardly in an issuing operation. The feelers 314 and 376 serve in a fashion which will be obvious to shift the frame 362 to cause either pinion 344 or pinion 346 to drive the inked ribbon.

The printing unit is made readily removable and replaceable in the machine. This end is accomplished by providing it with a notch 380 engageable with a pin 382 in the machine frame and by providing it additionally with a pin 384 engageable in a notch 386 in the machine frame. The latter notch is so arranged as to take the force of printing applied by the platen 232 without disturbing th printing unit. To facilitate removal-of the unit, it may be provided with a member 388 pivoted on a transverse pin and liftable by the finger of an operator to serve as a handle for removing the unit.

The type of ticket to be issued by the unit is illustrated in Figure 16, at T. The strip S fed into the machine is provided with central openings illustrated in the ticket at A and provided down its center line with perforations, indicated at B. The ticket strip is not provided with the usual transverse weakened or perforated lines, but is, in fact, preferably of stock which cannot be readily torn along a well defined transverse line; The strip is preprinted, for example, with the name of the theater, th price and with serial numbers, indicated at N. Each ticket issued may comprise one to five sub-tickets. For example, in Figure 16 the ticket T comprises four sub tickets on the uppermost one of which the machine prints the date indicated at D and on each of the next three the number 4 indicated at The ticket is designed to be used in carrying out a checking and accounting system, which need not be described herein. It will suffice to state that the ticket issued by the machine is presented to the ticket taker, who will tear it lengthwise along the line of perforations B, presenting the left hand portion, as illustrated in Figure 16, to the customer and depositing the right hand portion containing the date D and the members E in the usual receptacle. If the ticket contains but a single sub-ticket, that will have the date printed thereon. On the other hand, if the ticket con tains more than one sub-ticket, the Whole number of sub-tickets will be printed on each subticket subsequent to the first. Examination of the stubs and their use in special fashions serves as a check on various factors and facilitate accounting. The present invention is not concerned same time, its end with the form of ticket, but solely with the fashion in which the ticket of this type is produced and issued. Y The operation of th improved mechanism may now be described; In all-of the figures of the drawings, the parts areshown in their initial rest positions, immediately prior to the initiation of a ticket printing and issuing operation. As was explained heretofore, the complete ticket machine will generally comprise'a series of units such as that illustrated, and such case the ears '18 of the plates 14 of the successive units will overlap, the last of theseserving to. contrcl'the closing of a master switch which will energize the common driving motor for the entire set of units. As also explained above, beneath the gear i'lZOf each of the units is'a pinion I65 carried by a common transverseshait Ifi'i. Initially, however, the pinions do not mesh with anything, because the segments I64 of all of the units are withdrawn upwardly out of meshing position. i It will be evident from the operations hereafter described that two or more units of the machine may be simultaneously operating without interference with each other. N The locking lever 36 will be in the position illustrated in Figure 4' to maintain the plate 3E1 in its rearmost position, so that the key control elementswill be operative. The ticket strip S will be located in the unit, holding outwardly the lever 96, and accordingly removing the arresting arm 88 from an interfering position with respect to the depending arm 86. The ticket strip will be located with its upper end, which will pass through one of the openings A, directly at the position of meeting of the knife blades and The operation of the machine is initiated by depression of any one of the keys 8. It will be assumed that there is depressed the key which will effect the issue of four sub-ticketsi. e., of the ticket of Figure 16;

As the key moves downwardly, it will carry with it through the medium of its pin it a'lever 20, which will, in turn, engage the free end 50 of the corresponding lever 48, moving slightly rearwardly' to effect this result as the sloping edge 41 moves down the corresponding step oi the plate 3% As the lever it rocks, its notch will release the corresponding lever'fiii, the cam follower portion I08 of which will drop against the surface or" its corresponding cam I it. At the of the corresponding step I39 ly into the path 7 As the lever 48 rocks, it will of the yoke I28. also rock the yoke lease lever 10, which is urged in a counterclockwise direction by the strong spring 84. As'the lever Ill rocks, its-end 13 depresses plate I4, thereby, directly or through intermediate units, closing the motor energizing switch of the ma- I24 will move slightly upward- 62, causing detent to rechine. At the same time, through link 82 the 7 member IE6 is rocked releasing the pin I62 on the segment I64 to permit it' to drop into mesh with the pinion I85 directly beneath it. All or the parts are thereby set up for. the beginning of the issuing operation. t p

As the rotation of the gear It begins, the rise of the cam I18 will rock the lever I82 against the tensionvoi spring. I84 to engage the tail of the plate thereby effecting the holding down of this in additicn to that resulting from he lever it. As will be evident hereafter; this action of lever I82 serves to maintain the switch closed and the drivin motor energized until theend of the cycle of operation, despite the fact that the lever .10 must'be restored to its initial position well prior to the end of the cycle. Through the train ofgea'ring the feed disc 38 will immediately start to rotate. However, it ca not feed the ticket strip because, at thistime, the movement of the lever not have been sufficient to pressthe iecddisc iii-ii against the ticket strip topinch itior' the feeding operation.

In the very early part ofthe operation, the roller, 25%) on the disc 2 45'wi11 engage the armf54 pi" the'knife controlling lever 256 to withdraw the.

'vaol'e blade from the end of the ticket guide, at when feeding takes place, the ticket strip freely outwardly. I 'fv'eiy shortly. after the beginning of the cycle, cam 52?. will clear the'arm it so that the viewed in Figure The movementoi the yoke the action oi' the spring 3M of the printing liZlitWlll takeplace to the extent determined b engagement oi one ofits steps with the end iii 01" the lever kit], which has been rocked: As a result, the arm-326 of the printing unit, which is connected to the rack32t, is permitted to move some predetermined distance which will, in the present case, be suificient to move the'three is oi the member 298 into printing position behind theinked ribbon. As this movement takes place, the-pin will bereleased by arm 32b serving accordingly to rock'shai't to retract pawl 338. Later-in the cycle oioperation this action is reversed; and'consequentiy the pawl 338 will im-' part astep-to the inked-ribbon to advance it. Ihe advancing steps, a will be evident, will be of difi'erentlengths, depending on the number of subticke s issued; but since all that is required is movement of the ribbon; the extent in each operation being immaterial, no fine adjustments of thismechanism-for length of feed are necessary.

The printing member 293 having been set up, as just described, the printing action may occur. lhis isefiected by'the action oi cam 266 on follower roller 251 to press theeplatenitfi against the ticket strip forcing it against the inked ribbon backed-up by the ticket including,v oi. course, the dating orother slugs indicated atfliifi. Accordingly, in the present instance, the portion of the ticket'strip which will form the first sub-ticketiis impressed with the date, while the next three sub-tickets will be impressed with the number l As will be evident from the shape of the earn 256, the piatenis substantiall immediately releasedhunder the action of the spring 214;

Feeding of the ticket strip may accordingly commence. I

Feeding begins when the follower portion 188 ofthe actuated lever t'lldrops oil the end of its correspondingcam HQ. in the present instance, inthe issue "of four sub-tickets, the cam with which theactuated lever tilt will be engaged will the second in order of increasing length. When such dropping off of the'follower portion tilt occurs, the lever (it will move s'ufiiciently under the action of. its strong spring Iiifi to rock the feeddisc I53. into tight pinching engagement with theticket against. the action of its weaker retracting spring NHL. The ticket strip will, thereiorebegin its; movement.

Just-prior to. this event, the cam it! will have engaged roller 2H5 on-lever Zia), thereby efiecting the rctractionof roller 'ifili from the notch of'the 28 rock in'a clockwise direction as a rotate the 238 of the counter 262 to cause it to record the number of sub-tickets issued.

The feed of the ticket strip continues until the follower I68 of the actuated lever 60 rides up the rise I I6 of its cam I I0, thereby releasing the disc I50 from its engagement with the strip. The total feeding movement imparted to the ticket strip is desirably slightly in excess of the amount necessary to bring the proper cutting line in alignment with the knives. As soon as the feeding action ends, the roller 2 I6 is released by the cam 2I2 to permit the roller 264 to drop into the notch of the star wheel I32, then presented to it. It will be evident that a camming action of the roller on the teeth of the star wheel can occur, and this serves to move slightly in a forward'or rearward direction the star wheel so as to adjust the ticket strip to align a proper portion thereof, preferably one of the openings A, with the knives. The blade I9I does not interfere with this action, being suitably located with respect to the pins. Its function is solely to prevent retrograde rotation of the pinwheel which might result in the ticket strips dropping out of the guide after the star wheel is released by the roller 284.

It will be evident that theadjustment afforded by the screw 234 thus insures accurate alignment of the ticket strip with the knives. Slight nonuniformities of manufacture make it desirable to provide this adjustment, though when once set no further adjustment is generally necessary. The adjustment is of course, essentially that of the lever 286 about the pivot 288.

By the above operations the ticket strip will have been brought into position for cutting. The cutting action is eifected by engagement of the roller 246 with the arm 252 of the knife lever 256. The ticket is thereby delivered to the patron through theusual slot in the top plate of the machine.

vIn the meanwhile, the parts which have been displaced are being brought back to their initial positions. Arm I36 of the yoke I28 will be rocked by cam I28 to effect the restoration of the yoke and with it of the lever 326 and the printing element 298, which will be returned slightly beyond the printing position for the s. The feeding of the inked ribbon takes place in this action. Near the end of the cycle of operation, the cam I88 will engage the arm 98 of the yoke 62. Accordingly, the lever 48, which was rocked, will be forcibly moved to its original position, the cam 56 acting upon the end 58 of the displaced lever 68 to move it outwardly to a position to engage within the notch 54. As the yoke 62 rocks, the portion 66 will move in front of the edge 88 of the lever 10, which, just prior to this time, will have been rocked rearwardly by .the action of cam ii-S on the upper arm of the doublearmed lever I55. While this motion of the lever 18 will release the switch controlling plate 14, the switch will remain closed due to the action of the lever I82.

The positioning of I56 by cam I16 results in bringing the hook I68 into the path of pin I62 of the segment I84 where it remains when cam I16 clears arm I14 because of engagement of with detent 65. As the pin I62 is thus arrested, the segment I64 is released from mesh with the driving pinion, and accordingly the operating parts 01" the unit stop. Just as the gear I12 reaches its final position, the lever I82 drops ofi the cam I18, thereby releasing the switch plate 14 to permit the switch to open.

The restoration of the keys may have taken place by their release immediately after the operation of the machine began. However, even if they were continuously held down, the machine would not operate through another cycle. This result is due to the fact that immediately after the levers 20 are lowered sufficiently to initiate action of the machine by releasing lever 18 and one of the levers 68, their upper ends 24 will engage steps 26, swinging them forwardly to disengage their shoulders 46 from lever ends 58. Accordingly, further and quite unavoidable depression of any one of the keys will result in the swinging of the shoulder 45 into such position as not to be engageable by a lever 46 when the latter is restored to its initial position. Subsequent operation of the machine cannot, therefore, occur until the key is released and subsequently depressed. v

In the event of simultaneous depression of two keys, it will be evident that a ticket will be issued corresponding to the key of maximum value that is depressed. In the case of such accidental operation, the proper numbering will, nevertheless, take place, since the printing element 298 is released from a position corresponding approximately to the printing of the highest number. Thus there is insured a proper numbering of every sub-ticket of the strip, irrespective of intentional or unintentional faulty operation by the operator.

Locking of the machine is simply effected by he use of the lever 36, which is so rocked as to move the plate 30 forwardly. By this'action, the

steps of the plate are caused to rock the lovers 28 to such position that upon their depression they will fail to engage the levers 48. If after such locking any key is depressed, the result will be the latching down of such depressed key by engagement of'its shoulder SI beneath the corresponding step 32 of plate 38. This is desirable not only to indicate that the machine is in locked condition, but to prevent tampering with the keys.

In the event the ticket strip runs out, the unit is immediately locked by the movement of arm 88 into the path of the arm 86 of the yoke 62. The lever 92 engages the ticket strip sufficiently below the knives to insure that there is always suflicient present to permit the issue of the maximum number of tickets.

In the issue of a ticket containing any different number of sub-tickets, the action is essentially the same. In case only one sub-tickets is issued, however, the yoke I28 is not arrested by any of the levers I24, and accordingly may move until the pin I34 strikes the end of the slot through which it passes in the plate 6. This movement is sufficient to cause the printing element 258 to move beyond the printing position of the 2. Accordingly, the sole printing that takes place is that due to the Slugs 360.

What I claim and desire to protect by, Letters Patent is:

1. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for guiding a ticket strip having openings therein, means for clamping the ticket strip and movable to advance it along said guiding means, means for efiecting engagement and release of the ticket strip by said clamping means, means comprising a fixed knife and a movable knife for severing the ticket strip, and means for aligning the ticket strip with respect to said severing means, the aligning means comprising an element continuously engaging the openings in the forcibly holding engaging ticket strip, means forcibly holding saidengaging element in predetermined positions relative to the direction of movement .of the ,ticket strip, and means reie .ng said element from restraint by the last mentioned means when the clamping means advances the ticket strip.

2. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for guiding a ticket strip having openings therein, means for clamping the ticket strip and movable to advance it along said guiding means, means for eifecting engagement and release of the ticket strip by said clamping means comprising a fixed knife and a movable knife for severing the ticket strip, and means for aligning the ticket strip with respect to'said severing means, the aligning meanscomprising an element engaging thc'openings n'the ticket strip, adjustable means element in. prede tcrmi'ledadjusted posi ons, andnieans releasing said element from traint by the ,last' mentloned means when the means advances the ticket strip; c I

3. A ticket suing machine comprising means 'uidi'ng a ticket trip having openings therein, for clamping t e ticket strip and movable to advance it along said g ing means, means for effecting engagement and release of the ticket strip by said clamping means, means comprising a fixed knife and a movable knife for the ticket and means for aligning the ticket str) with respect to said severing means, the rig means comprising a pinwheel engaging the openings in the -cket strip, a notched member moving With pinivhcel, and a holding element engageabl in the notches oi said member adjustable in a direction having a component about the axis the notched member so that the pinwhccl may be angularly adjusted thereby to effect adjustment of the strip.

i. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for guiding a ticket strip,

other into clamping engagement with theticket strip for predetermined portions of operation.

5. A ticket issuing machine compri ing means for guiding a ticket strip, means for feeding the ticket strip variable distances along-said guiding means, and means controllin said feeding means to determine the extent of feed, said feeding means comprising a strip-engaging rotating member having during every cycle of operation of the machine a movement at least that required for the maximum extent of ticket feed, a second rotating member arranged to clamp the ticket strip against the first mentioned rotating memb and devices affected by said controlling means to move said members relatively to each other into clamping engagement With the ticket strip for predetermined portions or the cycle of operation, said clamping engagement being maintained continuously throughout the entire stripi'eeding period in every cycle of operation.

6. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for guiding a ticket strip, means for feeding the the cycle of means for feeding the ticket strip variable distances along said guidingv evering ticket strip variable-distances along said guiding means, and means controlling said feeding means to determine the extent of feed, said'ieeding means comprising a strip-engaging rotating member havingduring every cycle of operation of the machine a movement at least that re,-

cuired for the maximum extent of ticket feed,

a second rotating member arranged to clamp the ticket strip against the first mentioned rotating member, a plurality of elements each of which is operative independently of the others toimaintainsaid'rotating members in clamping relation ship with the strip, and means for causing said elements to efiect their respective actions for diiierent portions'oi the cycles of operation.

.7. A ticket issuing machine comp for guiding a ticket strip, mean for feeding the ticket strip variable distances along saidsguiding means, and-means controlling said feeding means to determine the extent or feed, said feeding means comprisingv a strip-engaging rotating member having during every cycle of operation of the machine a movement at least that required 'ments to effect their respective maintaining actions for different portionsof the cycles of operation, said controlling means rendering said elements selectively operable. 7

8. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for guiding a ticket strip, means for feeding the ticket strip variable distances along said guiding means, and means controlling said feeding means to determine the extent of feed, the last mentioned means comprising a actuable elements, members individual to, and engageable and movable by, said elements upon their movements under manual actuation, and

means for disengaging said elementsfrom their respective members upon continued movement of the elements after'their members reach oper ative positions so thatreengagement maybe established only after manual release of said elements. 7

9. A ticket issuing machine comprisin means for guiding a ticket strip, ticket strip along said guiding means, and means for effecting operation of said feeding means, the last mentioned means comprising a manually actuable element, a member engageable and movable by said element upon its movement ,under manual actuation, andmeans for disengagin the element from said member upon continued-movemerit of the element after said member reaches operative position so that reengagement may be established only after manual release of the element.

10. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for guiding a ticket strip, means for feeding the ticket strip variable distances along said guiding means, and means controlling said feeding means to determine the extent of feed, said feeding means comprising a strip-engaging rotating member havingduring every cycle of operation of the machine a movement at least that required for the maximum extent of ticket feed, a second rotating member arranged to clamp the ticket strip against the first mentioned rotating member, devices aifected by said controlling maintaining ing means pluralityiof manually means for feeding the afiected by said controllin means to cause said member to engage and feed the strip for predetermined variable portions of th cycle of operation thereby to determine the number of tickets issued, said engagement of the member with the strip being maintained continuously throughout the entire strip-feeding period in every cycle of operation.

12. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for guiding a ticket strip, means for feeding the ticket strip variable distances along said guiding means, and means controlling said feeding means to determine the extent of feed, said feeding means comprising a member for frictionally engaging the strip to move the same, a plurality of elements each of which is operative independently of the others to maintain said engagement of the member with the strip, and means for causing said elements to effect their respective maintaining actions for different portions of the cycles of operation, said controlling means rendering said elements selectively operable.

13. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for guiding a ticket strip, means for feeding the ticket strip variable distances along said guiding means, and means controlling said feeding means to determine th extent of feed, said feeding means comprising a member for frictionally engaging the strip to move the same, and devices aiiected by said controlling means to cause said member to move into operative engagement with and feed the, strip for predetermined variable portions of the cycle of operation thereby to determine the number of tickets issued.

REUBEN H. HELSEL. 

